Process for increasing the filling power of land fowl feathers by digestion with acids and precipitating inorganic metal salts and feathers produced therefrom



P 3, 1957 v P. A. FLORIO 2,805,116

PROCESS FOR INCREASING THE FILLING POWER OF LAND FOWL FEATHERS BYDIGESTION WITH ACIDS AND PRECIPITATING INORGANIC METAL SALTS ANDFEATHERS PRODUCED THEREFROM Filed Nov. 8, 1954 /5(5A e5uLj 3 (5/1195) WYINVENTOR FATE/(K .A. H E

ATTORN EY Patrick A. Florin, Elrnhurst, N. Y., assignor to MohascoIndustries, Inc, a corporation of New York Application November 8, 1954,Serial No. 467,266

14 Claims. (Cl. 894.10)

This invention relates to a process for improving the characteristics ofall types of feathers and more particularly to a process for treatingland fowl feathers to increase the filling power thereof.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my co- ;pendingapplication Serial No. 288,491, filed May 17,

.1952, for Process for Treating Keratinaceous Fibers, ,now abandoned.

An object of the invention is to make land fowl feathers suitable foruse in place of water fowl feathers .as a filler for mattresses andpillows, as an insulating medium for clothing, and for other useswherein water fowl feathers have heretofore been considered to besuperior.

The filling power is defined as the specific volume of a given weight ofthe material under a predetermined light load.

Another object is to produce a land fowl feather in which the quill andthe rachises are curled and the barbs project outwardly from therachises as in a natural Water fowl feather.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription.

in accordance with this invention it has been found that a chemicaltreatment of feathers with certain inorganic acids and salts, followedby the steps of neutralization, washing and drying in a non-constrainedstate, produces the desired results. It is believed that the steps ofdigestion and neutralization, by the mechanism of swelling anddeswelling, serve to release the internal stresses which allow thefeather to curl vand the barbs to open up while drying in non-restrainedcondition. The curling tendency is enhanced by the metal ions which areabsorbed within the feather during digestion and remain after washing toassist in holding the feather in its new form.

The drying must be carried out with the feathers in unconstrained statein view of the fact that minute internal forces are involved which wouldbe ineffective if the fibers were physically restrained from deformingas by the weight of a substantial layer of such feathers. Tumble typedrying in an apparatus similar to a kiln or drying in an air streamunder conditions to separate and float the feathers have been foundsatisfactory.

Various non-oxidizing inorganic acids may be used, for example,sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, or hydrochloric acid, in combinationwith a water soluble inorganic salt such as an alum or a compoundcontaining an alum complex, sulfates, dichromates and phosphates, ormixtures thereof.

Patented Sept. 3, 1957 Examples of such salts are set forth in thefollowing table:

TABLE A (Alum) aluminum sulfate Sodium aluminum sulfate Potassiumaluminum sulfate Ammonium aluminum sulfate Magnesium sulfate Coppersulfate Chromic sulfate Potassium dichromate Sodium dichromate Calciumphosphate Ferric phosphate Example 'I A digesting solution is made upconsisting of 30 parts by weight of alum A12(SO4)3.14H2O, technicalgrade, 32 parts by Weight of 66 B. sulphuric acid and 3000 parts ofwater. The temperature of the solution is adjusted to between 95 F. and105 F. 60 parts of chicken feathers, having a fillingpower equal to 3 5%ofthat of an equal weight of duck feathers are added to the digestingsolution and the whole mass agitated. The pH of the digesting mixtureranges. from 0.1 to 0.85 at the start. The digestion is continued at theabove temperature for one-half hour. At the end of this time,neutralization is effected while maintaining the mixture at the sametemperature by the slow addition of soda ash (NazCOs) until the solutionbecomes milky in appearance (pH about 4.6) due to the precipitation ofsodium sulphate and aluminum hydroxide. Further addition of soda ashbeyond this point would cause excessive and undesirable deposition ofinorganic salts.

The same temperature is maintained for another onehalf hour in order tobring the feathers to the same pH as the liquor, making a total of oneand one quarter hours for the procedure. At the end of this period theliquid is drained off and the feathers are washed with water until thewash water becomes clear. The'feathers are then centrifuged to removemost of the water, and dried in a non-constrained conditionrin. an airstream within'a'rotating tumble type drier. During the drying thefeathers assumed a curled form with fluffy, freeacting barbs asdescribed below and were found to, have a filling power equal to that ofduck feathers.

The following table shows results obtained, using the above techniquewith diflerent quantities of HzSOrand alum. For purposes of comparison,duckfeathers are considered as having filling power. Filling power ofuntreated chicken feathers was 35%.

TABLE C Parts Percent Example Parts Acid Parts Salt Water Filling Power4H2SO4 4138804 92 90 Treatment of duck fetathers according to theprocedure outlined in Example I further improved the filling power to124% of their original-value.

The amount of solution needed for asatisfactory treatment may be varied,namely 60 parts'of feathers to 3000 parts of water may be changedto-less water or more water depending on the ease of agitation.

The temperature of digestion can be varied from room temperature to 185F., the lower temperature being preferred. The time of treatment canlikewise be varied-with shorter times at higher temperatures and longertimes at lower temperatures, with treatment corresponding in severity toone-half hour at 85 F. to 120? F. being preferred. Temperatures higherthan 185 F. should be avoided since the feathers become increasinglybrittle and powdery.-

The digesting mixture may be drained at the end of the digestion stepand the neutralization of the feathers effected with the addition ofenough fresh soda ash solution 'at 105. F.-to cause the milky appearanceheretofore mentioned and due tothe precipitation of sodium sulphate andaluminum hydroxide. The same temperature is maintained for another halfhour, after which the feathers are washed and dried as above.

Other common alkaline materials may be used in place of soda ash such assodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, or sodiumsilicate.

The feathers treated as above showed a marked increase in flutfiness.The quills and rachis curled and the barbs were extended outwardly toproduce an effect similar to water fowl feathers as shown in thedrawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an'elevation of a typical chicken feather prior Fig. 3 is agreatly eiilarged partial section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; a

Fig. 4 is a similar enlarged section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;and

Fig. 5 is a microscopic view of a barb and barbule of a typical chickenfeather. V

In the drawings the quill is indicated at 10 with the rachis 11projecting outwardly therefrom on both sides. The rachises 11 are stiffand regular at the quill giving a typical ladder effect as indicated at12.

, It will be noted that the quill 10 of Figs. 1 and 3 is substantiallystraight and that the rachises 11 extend from opposite sides thereofsubstantially in a single plane although the direction of the rachis esmay vary according to the location of the feather on the fowl andmay'also vary from the baseto the top of the-feather. a

The rachises l1 carry barbs 13:which;normal lyf 1 ie along the rachisesa's shownin Fig.-3.--

'After tre'atmeng'as in Figs. 2 and4;the"qull"10 is 4 curled and therachises 11 are variously bent and curled in various directions aroundthe quill and the barbs 3 are raised and extend outwardly generallynormal to the rachises as in a typical duck feather. This effect isparticularly marked near the base of the quill.

The treated chicken feather of Figs. 2 and 4 is similar in fluflinessand softness and appearance to a duck feather and is suitable for suchuses as filling for pillows, sleeping bags or the like. It isdistinguishable from duck feathers by reason of the ladder effect 12 andthe circular nodes 14 on the barbules 15 which extend from the barbs 13,as shown in Fig. 5.

A discussion of the structure of a typical chicken feather asdistinguished from a duck feather is given in an article by Laconti andBailey entitled Fundamental Studies of Property of Feathers and Down, inthe January 1954 issue of Pioneering Research Laboratory, QuartermasterDepot, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. That article describes the roundnodes on the barbules of a chicken feather as distinguished from theflat triangular shaped trows on the barbules of a duck feather and whichprovide a means for identifying the chicken feathers treated inaccordance with the present process even though the general appearanceas to shape and fluftiness may be substantially the same as that of atypical duck feather.

What is claimed is:

' 1. A process for increasing the filling power of feathers of landfowl, which comprises digesting feathers of land fowl in an acidsolution, at a pH of from 0.1 to 0.85, of an acid selected from thegroup consisting of sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid and phosphoricacid, and a watersoluble inorganic metal salt selected from the groupconsisting. of alums, sulphates of iron, magnesium, copper and chromium,dichromates of sodium and potassium, phosphates of calcium and iron,cupric chloride and mixtures of said inorganic metal salts, at atemperature of about 95 F. to 105 F. for about one-half hour under suchconditions as to swell the protein of the feathers, neutralizing thefeathers with an alkaline substance in an amount sufficient to given thesolution a milky appearance due to the precipitation of the inorganicmetal salts, washing the feathers and drying the feathers whilenon-constrained to permit the feathers to curl and fluff due to theinternal stresses developed therein.

2. A process for increasing the filling power of feathers of land fowl,which comprises digesting feathers of land fowl in an acid solution, ata pH of from 0.1 to 0.85,

of an acid selected from the group consisting of sulphuric acid,hydrochloric acid and phosphoric acid, and

I a water-soluble inorganic metal salt selected from the organic metalsalts, washing the feathers, centrifuging the feathers to remove thebulk of water therefrom, and drying the feathers while non-constrainedto permit the feathers to curl ,and fluff due to the internal stressesdeveloped therein.

' 3. A process for increasing the filling power of feathers of landfowl, which comprises digesting feathers of land fowl in an acidsolution, at a pH of from 0.1 to 0.85, of an acidjselected from thegroup consisting of sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid and phosphoricacid, and a water-soluble inorganic metal salt selected from the groupconsisting of alums sulphates of iron, magnesium, copper and chromium,dichromates of sodium andpotassium,. phosphates of calcium and iron,cupric chloride and mixtures of said inorganic metal salts, at atemperature of about 95 F. to 105 F. for about onehalf hour under suchconditions as to swell the protein of the feathers, neutralizing thefeathers with an alkaline substance in an amount suflicient to give thesolution a milky appearance due to the precipitation of the inorganicmetal salts, washing the feathers and drying the feathers whilesuspended in an air stream to permit the feathers to curl and fluff dueto the internal stresses developed therein.

4. A process for increasing the filling power of feathers of land fowl,which comprises digesting feathers of land fowl in an acid solution, ata pH of from 0.1 to 0.85, of sulphuric acid and an alum at a temperatureof about 95 F. to 105 F. for about one-half hour under such conditionsas to swell the protein of the feathers, neutralizing the feathers withsoda ash in an amount sufficient to give the solution a milky appearancedue to the precipitation of inorganic metal salts, washing the feathersand drying the feathers while non-constrained to permit the feathers tocurl and fluff due to the internal stresses developed therein.

5. A process for increasing the filling power of feathers of land fowl,which comprises digesting feathers of land fowl in an acid solution, ata pH of from 0.1 to 0.85, of sulphuric acid and ferric sulphate at atemperature of about 95 F. to 105 F. for about one-half hour under :suchconditions as to swell the protein of the feathers, neutralizing thefeathers with soda ash in an amount :sufficient to give the solution amilky appearance due to the precipitation of inorganic metal salt,washing the feathers and drying the feathers while non-constrained topermit the feathers to curl and fluff due to the internal stressesdeveloped therein.

6. A process for increasing the filling power of feathers of land fowl,which comprises digesting feathers of land fowl in an acid solution, ata pH of from 0.1 to 0.85, of sulphuric acid and magnesium sulphate at atemperature of about 95 F. to 105 F. for about one-half .hour under suchconditions as to swell the protein of the feathers, neutralizing thefeathers with soda ash in an amount sufiicient to give the solution amilky appearance due to the precipitation of inorganic metal salt,washing the feathers and drying the feathers while non-constrained topermit the feathers to curl and fluff due to the internal stressesdeveloped therein.

7. A process for increasing the filling power of feathers of land fowl,which comprises digesting feathers of land fowl in an acid solution, ata pH of from 0.1 to 0.85, of hydrochloric acid and cupric chloride at atemperature of about 95 F. to 105 F. for about one-half hour under suchconditions as to swell the protein of the feathers, neutralizing thefeathers with soda ash in an amount suflicient to give the solution amilky appearance due to the precipitation of inorganic metal salt,washing the feathers and drying the feathers while non-constrained topermit the feathers to curl and flufi due to the internal stressesdeveloped therein.

8. A process for increasing the filling power of feathers of land fowl,which comprises digesting feathers of land fowl in an acid solution, ata pH of from 0.1 to 0.85, of phosphoric acid and sodium dichromate at atemperature of about 95 F. to 105 F. for about one-half hour under suchconditions as to swell the protein of the feathers, neutralizing thefeathers with soda ash in an amount sufficient to give the solution amilky appearance due to the precipitation of inorganic metal salt,washing the feathers and drying the feathers while non-constrained topermit the feathers to curl and fluff due to the internal stressesdeveloped therein.

9. A land fowl feather prepared in accordance with claim 1 having aquill, rachis, barbs and barbules with rounded nodes, said quill andrachis being curled and said barbs extending outwardly generally normalto said rachis, said feather having a fiufiiness and filling powergenerally equivalent to that of a duck feather.

10. A land fowl feather prepared in accordance with claim 4 having aquill, rachises, barbs and barbules with rounded nodes, said quill andrachises being curled and said barbs extending outwardly generallynormal to said rachises, said feathers having a fiufiiness and fillingpower generally equivalent to that of a duck feather.

11. A land fowl feather prepared in accordance with claim 5 having aquill, rachises, barbs and barbules with rounded nodes, said quill andrachises being curled and said barbs extending outwardly generallynormal to said rachises, said feathers having a fluffiness and fillingpower generally equivalent to that of a duck feather.

12. A land fowl feather prepared in accordance with claim 6 having aquill, rachises, barbs and barbules with rounded nodes, sai-d quill andrachises being curled and said barbs extending outwardly generallynormal to said rachises, said feathers having a fluffiness and fillingpower generally equivalent to that of a duck feather.

13. A land fowl feather prepared in accordance with claim 7 having aquill, rachises, barbs and barbules with rounded nodes, said quill andrachises being curled and said barbs extending outwardly generallynormal to said rachises, said feathers having a fiuffiness and fillingpower generally equivalent to that of a duck feather. I

14. A land fowl feather prepared in accordance with claim 8 having aquill, rachises, barbs and barbules with rounded nodes, said quill andrachises being curled and said barbs extending outwardly generallynormal to said rachises, said feather having a flufiiness and fillingpower generally equivalent to that of a duck feather.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 12,102Reynolds Dec. 19, 1854 505,141 Tausk Sept. 19, 1893 1,008,249 ElsasserNov. 7, 1911 2,115,562 Orthmann Apr. 26. 1938 2,390,073 Calva Dec. 4,1945 2,706,143 Florio Apr. 12, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 468,845 GreatBritain July 13, 1937 OTHER REFERENCES Progress in Leather Science1920-1945, London, 1948, pp. 557-8.

1. A PROCESS FOR INCREASING THE FILLING POWER OF FEATHERS OF LAND FOWL,WHICH COMPRISES DIGESTING FEATHERS LAND FOWL IN AN ACID SOLUTION, AT APH OF FROM 0.1 TO 0.85, OF AN ACID SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OFSULPHURIC ACID, HYDROCHLORIC ACID AND PHOSPHORIC ACID, AND AWATERSOLUBLE INORGANIC METAL SALT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OFALUMS, SULPHATES OF IRON, MAGNESIUM, COPPER AND CHROMIUM, DICHROMATES OFSODIUM AND POTASSIUM, PHOSPHATES OF CALCIUM AND IRON, CUPRIC CHLORIDEAND MIXTURES OF SAID INORGANIC METAL SALTS, AT A TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT95*F, TO 105*F. FOR ABOUT ONE-HALF HOUR UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS AS TOSWELL THE PROTEIN OF THE FEATHERS, NEUTRALIZING THE FEATHERS WITH ANALKALINE SUBSTANCE IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO GIVEN THE SOLUTION A MILKYAPPEARANCE DUR TO THE PRECIPITATION OF THE INORGANIC METAL SALTS,WASHING THE FEATHERS AND DRYING THE FEATHERS WHILE NON-CONSTRAINED TOPERMIT THE FEATHERS TO CURL AND FLUFF DUE TO THE INTERNAL STRESSESDEVELOPED THERREIN.